A woman police believe to have been under the influence of alcohol survived driving off a steep cliff in Eagle Creek late Monday night, sustaining only minor injuries.
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the Eagle Creek area Monday, on information from an brief 911 call that came in at approximately 11:12 p.m.
The caller, later identified as Kristin Ann Madden, said that she was in a ravine, needed help and didn’t know where she was, but she eventually told dispatch she had just left the Eagle Creek Saloon, according to a press release.
Dispatch was able to trace the call to a general location, and deputies located the victim near SE Heiple and Samuels Road. Tire tracks showed the victim had left the roadway, and her silver Nissan Xterra was at the bottom of a steep ravine, badly damaged.
A CCSO spokesman later estimated the distance down the ravine to be “at least 40 feet.”
Estacada Fire, American Medical Response and Clackamas Fire District personnel responded to the scene. Life Flight was also placed on standby.
Rescuers determined they would need to conduct a technical rope rescue to reach the vehicle and extract Madden. Rescuers found that she was — incredibly — able to walk, and appeared to have suffered only minor injuries. Life Flight was canceled, and rescue personnel helped Madden reach the top of the cliff.
Madden was transported to an area hospital for treatment. While at the hospital, police continued their crash/DUII investigation.
“At one point, Madden told authorities she drove off the roadway due to a squirrel,” the press release from Clackamas County says. “She was issued a citation in lieu of custody on driving under the influence of intoxicants.”
